Maori land owners' aspirations for their whenua are being realised with support from the Whenua Maori Fund says Minister for Maori Development Te Ururoa Flavell.

Just 13 months after the Whenua Maori Fund opened, Te Puni Kokiri has successfully partnered with 40 projects supporting Māori land owners, Mr Flavell says.

The funding will enable Maori land owners and trustees to start projects that will assist their existing operations, and or diversify and prepare for new opportunities.

'Strong interest in the Whenua Maori Fund from across the motu shows that Maori land owners and trustees are looking at different ways they can use their whenua and return direct benefits to whānau,” Mr Flavell says.

The Whenua Māori Fund supports owners of Maori land to explore different uses of their land and ways of boosting its productivity.

Rewarewa D Incorporation in Te Taitokerau has recently signed an agreement with Te Puni Kokiri to investigate the feasibility and scope options for land owners to build a marae and papakāinga on 70 hectares of Maori land, the last remaining block of Māori freehold land in the Whangārei urban area.

The Minister says the fund has provided opportunities to work more connectedly in the regions to assist Maori land owners and whanau to achieve their land development goals, while still maintaining rangatiratanga over their whenua.

'As the overall Whenua Maori reforms progress, it is heartening that support for whānau from the Whenua Maori Fund can progress with haste.”

The Whenua Maori Fund was announced in February 2016, and provides $12.8 million over four yearsto support and empower Māori landowners to utilise whenua Maori as they see fit.

More information is available through the nearest regional Te Puni Kokiri office or online www.tpk.govt.nz.

SOURCE: Office of Te Ururoa Flavell